Turkey to drill for gas off Cyprus - Cavusoglu

Turkey said it is preparing to drill for hydrocarbons around the Cyprus island after procuring its own drillship, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Speaking in Antalya on Wednesday, Cavusoglu said Turkey would not make any concessions in the negotiations for the island’s reunification and would protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots until the end.

We are also starting to drill around Cyprus now, he said.

You know that in the past we prevented some drillings, including (one) by the Italians. But we will also drill in these areas.

The drillship, dubbed Fatih (‘Conqueror’ in Turkish), formerly known as DeepSea Metro II, is currently stationed at the port of Antalya, north-west of Cyprus.

Turkey has sought to block gas exploration by Cyprus, deploying warships and conducting military drills inside Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, drawing criticism from Greece, the European Union and the United States.

Back in February, Turkey warships off Cyprus physically blocked a drillship leased by Italian energy company ENI.

Turkey says exploration for potentially large gas reserves off Cyprus should take into account what it says are the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

We will not give up the right of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people to anyone, the foreign minister said.

Edited from Cyprus Mail